The Rumour File was right – The CFA’s been split in two

RUMOUR CONFIRMED: Paid and volunteer firefighters will be split into separate agencies under a radical restructure approved by the Andrews Government.

Click PLAY and you will hear The Rumour File had all the details Thursday morning…

Cabinet this afternoon approved the plan to make the CFA a volunteer-only agency.

Meanwhile, a new agency known as Fire Rescue Victoria will oversee career, paid firefighters in Melbourne and major regional centres.

The government has long argued federal intervention in the CFA dispute had made it impossible to sign an industrial agreement with paid firefighters.

The new agencies will solve that problem.

As part of the reforms, the government will invest $100 million in CFA infrastructure, volunteer recruitment and training.

Volunteers currently serving at one of the 35 integrated stations will be able to remain at that station, co-locating with Fire Rescue Victoria.

A Fire District Review Panel will be established to review current firefighting boundaries.

“We’ve had eight reviews in the last 10 years (and) they all say that the current structure isn’t working,” Emergency Services Minister James Merlino told 3AW.

“These changes will enshrine the CFA as a volunteer firefighting service under law and unite our career firefighters under one organisation – most importantly, they will keep Victorians safe, wherever they live.”

Further details will be announced Friday.

By Lauren Hilbert